title: Direct measurement and modulation of single-molecule coordinative bonding forces in a transition metal complex.
abstract: Coordination chemistry has been a consistently active branch of chemistry since Werner's seminal theory of coordination compounds inaugurated in 1893, with the central focus on transition metal complexes. However, control and measurement of metal-ligand interactions at the single-molecule level remain a daunting challenge. Here we demonstrate an interdisciplinary and systematic approach that enables measurement and modulation of the coordinative bonding forces in a transition metal complex. Terpyridine is derived with a thiol linker, facilitating covalent attachment of this ligand on both gold substrate surfaces and gold-coated atomic force microscopy tips. The coordination and bond breaking between terpyridine and osmium are followed in situ by electrochemically controlled atomic force microscopy at the single-molecule level. The redox state of the central metal atom is found to have a significant impact on the metal-ligand interactions. The present approach represents a major advancement in unravelling the nature of metal-ligand interactions and could have broad implications in coordination chemistry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 207, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gschneidtner
authors.forename: Elvar Ö
authors.initials: EÖ
authors.lastname: Jonsson
authors.forename: Jingdong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kasper
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moth-Poulsen
authors.forename: Hongda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kristian S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Thygesen
authors.forename: Karsten W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ulstrup
authors.forename: Qijin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chi